anatomy

the science of body structures and the relationships among them

dissection

the careful cutting apart of the body structures to study their relationships

physiology

the science of body functions-how the body works

embryology

the first eight weeks of development after fertilization of a human egg

developmental biology

the complete development of an individual from fertilization to death

cell biology

cellular structure and functions

histology

microscopic structure of tissues

gross anatomy

structures that can be examined without a microscope

systemic anatomy

structure of specific systems of the body such as the nervous or respiratory systems

regional anatomy

specific regions of the body such as the head or chest

surface anatomy

surface markings of the body to understand internal anatomy through visualization and palpation (gentle touch)

imaging anatomy

body structures that can be visualized with techniques such as x-rays, MRI, and CT scans

pathological anatomy

structural changes (gross to microscopic) associated with disease

neurophysiology

functional properties of nerve cells

endocrinology

hormones (chemical regulators in the blood) and how they control body functions

cardiovascular physiology

functions of the heart and blood

immunology

the body's defenses against disease-causing agents

respiratory physiology

functions of the air passageways and lungs

renal physiology

functions of the kidneys

exercise physiology

changes in the cell and organ functions due to muscular activity

pathophysiology

functional changes associated with disease and aging

atoms

the smallest units of matter that participate in chemical reactions

molecules

two or more atoms joined together

chemical level, cellular level, tissue level, organ level, system level

levels of structural organization in the human body

cellular level

molecules combine to form cells, the basic structural units of an organism that are composed of chemicals

tissues

groups of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to perform a particular function

epithelial tissue

covers body surfaces

connective tissue

connects, supports, and protects body organs while distributing blood vessels to other organs

muscular tissue

contracts to make body parts move and generates heat

nervous tissue

carries information from one part of the body to another through nerve impulses

organ level

different types of tissues are joined together

organs

structures that are composed of two or more different types of tissues

system

related organs with a common function

organism

any living individual

metabolism

the sum of all chemical processes that occur in the body

catabolism

the breakdown of complex chemical substances into simpler components

anabolism

the building up of complex chemical substances from smaller, simpler components

responsiveness

the body's ability to detect and respond to changes

movement

includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, and even tiny structures inside cells

growth

an increase in body size that results from an increase in the size of existing cells, increase in the number of cells, or both

differentiation

the development of a cell from an unspecialized to a specialized state

reproduction

the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair, or replacement, or the production of a new individual